It’s been a year since I’ve written. Many things turned me away from writing on this blog. I didn’t want to have to censor my thoughts in order to share my opinions about teaching or about Teach For America.
I am working on another documentary, but this time I am going to let me students tell the story.
My second year teaching is just as stressful but less daunting. The task at hand is to educate my students in anything and everything possible in one school year. I’ve thrown out the district pacing guide and I’ve began to use resources other than those provided for me by my school. The new assistant principal commented on this fact saying, “I like that you are not afraid to leave the textbooks under the desks.” I will not be a slave to a curriculum already planned for me.
Since I do teach American Literature, the main…

Let’s be honest…I’m tired and it’s only November. We’re on the 2nd 9 weeks of teaching. Students are getting real comfortable, too comfortable in my classroom. I’m trying every classroom management trick in the book: signals to get quiet, behavior narrative, writing names on the board, sending students to the office, one-on-one conversations, moving seats,…

Today is Parent Teacher Conference Day and since my school requires the parents pick up their child’s report card – the school is packed. Parents are streaming in and out of my room. It’s interesting to finally meet the people who are responsible for my students. With meeting the parents I am forced to think…

The best part of the school day for me is walking into my empty classroom. If the class that has just been released was rowdy and overwhelming, it’s so calming to hear nothing but the quiet hum of my 1990′s computer. It’s midterm week and I’m not following the exam schedule. And my principal knows…

As Florence put it, my regrets since the start of school are starting to haunt me. I have officially been teaching high school English for 13 (school) days and already I am constantly wishing I had done things more to the book. The book which I am referring is “First Days of School” by Frank…

“I would change the three class system to just two classes. I would change this because I am tired of seeing poor people homeless on the street. If I could change that people would have homes and have jobs so they will have money to live.” 11th grade student, male “If I had the power…

I had the pleasure of staying in Greenwood for a few days. Greenwood is a friendly town with lots of culture. There is clear segregation in the city; once you cross the bridge you enter a whole new world. But I will miss waking up to the elephant herd

The Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke at the Jackson Public School’s opening convocation earlier this week. I am a big admirer of the Rev., dating back to when my group of friends in high school starting calling ourselves “The Rainbow Coalition.” Anyways, he was truly inspiring. I felt privileged to be in the same room as him. Rev.…

My goal for this evening is to be in bed by 9:30. Today was the first day I felt like crying. It had nothing to do with my students, they are improving on a daily basis. It had nothing to do with the hour bus rides. It had nothing to do with the long (sometimes…